SHILLONG, March 1: The state government is awaiting reports from all the districts on illegal check gates before acting against them.
“We are trying to collect reports from all the districts on how many check gates are there and what type of orders they possess and after that we will do the needful,” Home Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui said on Tuesday.
The Opposition has been alleging that there are numerous illegal check gates in the state which amounts to extortion and is causing a lot of inconvenience.
The state government had asserted that any illegal check gate operating in the state must be closed down and had even directed the three Autonomous District Councils to shut down all illegal check gates and warned of action against those who do not follow the directive.
ANTF acting against drug trade
Rymbui said the Anti-Narcotic Task Force (ANTF) of the state police in collaboration with central agencies and other states are monitoring the entry of drugs into Meghalaya.
“The ANTF and district forces in collaboration with central agencies and other states are monitoring the drugs trade and anybody involved would be nabbed,” Rymbui said.
“Time and again, police have been seizing contraband items and swift action is being taken against them,” he said.
The division bench of the Meghalaya High Court had recently observed that there has to be a serious attempt by the state government to control the entry of drugs and to keep a vigil over the spread thereof.
Hearing a PIL on the matter, the division bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh had taken note of the report submitted by SP Mahanta, Amicus Curiae, that the drug menace in the state has reached an alarming level and unless immediate steps are taken, a generation or more may be lost to addiction.
Stating that the mandate of the government is to see that all the illegalities are wiped out, Rymbui admitted that one cannot deny the fact that drugs is creating a social disorder and substance abuse is increasing everywhere.